Frequently asked questions

Thinking about partnering on a student industry project? Explore answers to common questions about how it works, what’s involved, and the students you’ll work with.

Commitment and expectations

  • There is no cost to host a project. Industry projects are unpaid and are embedded within students' studies as part of their degree, delivered in close collaboration with your organisation and academic supervisors.

    The University's Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance covers the University and its students in relation to the placement, so your organisation carries no financial risk from hosting.

    • Work with our academic team to scope and define an achievable project.
    • Sign a Vocational Placement Letter Agreement (VPLA).
    • Depending on the subject, provide student working space or a schedule for office visits.
    • Nominate a staff member as a ‘project mentor’ to be available to guide the student/s.
    • Provide ongoing guidance and discuss relevant issues with the student/s.
    • Attend a final student presentation, where outcomes are shared both in presentation and report format (depending on the subject).

How the projects work

    • Be achievable within the timeframe: The project can be completed within an appropriate time period (one or two semesters) by either one or a team of students.
    • Address an open-ended problem or area of exploration: The problem should allow multiple approaches and solutions, culminating in actionable recommendations.
    • Primarily draw on computing and information systems expertise: The project should require the application of skills such as software development, data analytics, cybersecurity, UX/design, or business information systems. If it involves domain-specific knowledge outside these areas, guidance should be available from the host organisation.
    • Not critical to core operations: The project outcomes should be a “nice-to-have” rather than essential to core business activities, allowing flexibility for the learning-focused nature of student work.

  • Most projects run for one semester (either Semester 1 or Semester 2). Some projects, such as those in Software Engineering and Data Science, run across the full academic year, commencing at the start of the year. The exact timing will depend on the subject your project is matched with, and we’ll confirm the details with you.

  • Each project is delivered in close collaboration with an academic supervisor, who supports students throughout the semester (or year) and ensures the work stays aligned with your organisational needs.

  • We work with organisations of all sizes to bring industry problems into the classroom. The main requirement is a genuine, well-scoped area or problem you would like our students to work on. Our team will help match it to the right subject and project format.

Who you’ll work with

  • Our students are studying in graduate coursework programs within the School of Computing and Information Systems, including:

    • Master of Information Technology
    • Master of Data Science
    • Master of Information Systems
    • Master of Software Engineering

    Depending on the subject, students bring expertise across software development, data analytics, cybersecurity, UX/design, and business information systems.

  • This depends on the scope of your project. It may involve a focused research and development task with one or two students, or a larger, in-depth project delivered by a team of five or more students.

After the project ends

  • Yes. This becomes a direct employment agreement between you and the student, with no charge from the University.

    Separately, if you'd like to advertise other roles to our wider student cohort, you can do so via the Careers Online portal.

  • Absolutely. Many organisations use student projects as a first step towards deeper engagement with the University. Through the experience, you can discover student capabilities, connect with academic expertise, and identify opportunities for future collaboration.

Still have questions about student industry projects?

Contact our team to discuss your project idea or learn more about working with our students.